Vapor engine



E. B. NE L VAPOR ENGINE Sept. 14, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1948 Sept. 14, 1954 NE|| 2,688,954

VAPOR ENGINE 7 Filed July 20, l948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l I IN V EN T 0R.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. B. NEIL VAPOR ENGINE Sept. 14, 1954 Filed July 20, 1948 I Patented Sept. 14, 1954 VAPOR ENGINE Edmund B. Neil, Columbus, Ohio; G. Eloise Neil,

administratrix of said Edmund B. Neil, de-

ceased Application July 20, 1948, Serial No. 39,735

25 Claims. 1

. of the piston and cylinder type having an adjustably controlled vapor inlet to vary the point of cut-off and provided with a supplemental inlet for admitting vapor to the cylinder throughout the power stroke for starting purposes.

Still another object is to provide a vapor engine of the oscillating cylinder type, in which the vapor inlet is controlled both by the oscillation of the cylinder and by the movement of the piston.

A still further object is to provide a vapor engine of the oscillating cylinder type, in which the vapor inlet is controlled both by the oscillation of the cylinder and by the movement of the piston, with means for adjusting the point in the cycle of the engine where cut-off occurs.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is an end view of an engine embodying the features of the invention with one of the cylinders thereof shown in axial section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view with a portion thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the head end of a pairof cylinders of an engine of modified form.

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, are diagrammatic views indicating the various positions of the ports of the engine throughout one cycle thereof.

The operation of an engine of the character herein disclosed is dependent upon the pressure' cylinders. Heretofore, in an engine of the oscillating cylinder type, when it was desired to pro vide cut-off of the vapor, a mechanism such as a link motion or cam system had to be added. This, of course, involved additional moving parts and a consequent complication of the structure. In the present engine, cut-01f is obtained without any such addition of movable parts and the desired result is obtained by utilizing the normal movement of the piston in conjunction with the oscillation of the cylinder to provide the desired cut-off.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for adjusting the point of cut-01f, the structure for which is believed to be novel, not onlyin an oscillating cylinder type of engine but also in a type employing a fixed cylinder where the piston alone could be utilized for controlling the admission of vapor to the cylinder. The invention also has certain novel features for use in an oscillating cylinder type of engine where multiple cylinders are employed, such features relating particularly to the control of the inlet for the vapor to the various cylinders and for the adjustment of the point of cut-off in all of the cylinders.

In the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in a multicylinder engine of the V type, the particular engine illustrated having four cylinders with two arranged on each side of the V. The particular structure illustrated comprises a base l0 having formed integrally therewith a crankcase II. The crankcase is provided with suitable line bearings !2 for supporting a twothrow crankshaft I3. Thus, the crankshaft 13 has a pair of crank bearings l4 and to each of the bearings a pair of pistons is connected, with one piston extending to one side of the V and the other piston to the other side of the V, as is clearly apparent in Figs. 1 and 2.

Mounted on the upper part of the crankcase II and on opposite sides of the V are a pair of supports in the form of blocks l5, each pivotally supporting on opposite faces thereof a pair of cylinders l6. In the present instance, the pivot for the cylinders I6 is provided by a shaft ll extending through the two cylinders l6 and the intermediate block l5. One end of the shaft I7 is provided with a nut 20 bearing against the cylinder [1, while the other end is provided with a nut 21 and a spring 22 is interposed between the nut and the adjacent face of the cylinder I 6. Thus, the two cylinders [6 are pivotally supported and are held in face to-face engagement with opposite faces of the block [5. To provide adequate bearing faces for the block and each cylinder l6, relatively thin face plates 23 are interposed therebetween, with one of the face plates soured to the block and the other to the cylinder.

Mounted within each cylinder I6 is a piston 24 which is of elongated form and has rigidly formed therewith a connecting rod portion 25 connected in the usual manner to one of the crank pins l4. Thus, as the crankshaft l3 rotates, each piston is reciprocated within its cylinder, and the cylinder is caused to oscillate about the pivot shaft ll.

As heretofore mentioned, both the oscillation of each cylinder and the reciprocation of its associated piston are utilized to control the admission of vapor to the cylinder. By this means, cut-off is obtained, that is, the Vapor is admitted to the cylinder only during the initial portion of the power stroke of the piston. To this end, vapor from a suitable vapor generator is conducted through a pipe 26 to a vapor inlet passage 2? formed in the block iii. The pipe 26 and the vapor inlet passage 21 are located on the inner side of the V so that the pipes for supplying vapor to all cylinders may be readily interconnected. Within the block [5, the passage 2? is provided with oppositely extending branches 36 to conduct the vapor to the two cylinders IE on opposite sides of the block l5. Each branch 38 is provided with a port 31 in the adjacent face plate 23 mounted on the block l5.

To provide for admission of vapor to the interior of the cylinder, the face plate 23 on the cylinder is provided with a vapor port '32 which is arranged to be moved into and out of register with the port 3| by the oscillation of the cylinder. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, theport 32 is out of register with the port 3! but will be brought into register with the port 3! by pivotal movement of the cylinder in a clockwise direc tion about the pivot shaft 1 1. Other well-known forms of ports, such as radially opening ports in relatively movable cylindrical surfaces concentric with the pivot shaft ll, may be employed instead of the ports 3! and 32 in the face plates. The port 32 communicates with a transverse passage 33 formed in the cylinder, and this in turn communicates with a longitudinal passage 34 extending parallel to the axis'of the cylinder at one side thereof.

At the lower end of the longitudinal passage (M are a plurality of openings providing communication between the passage 3d and the interior of the cylinder. Throughout the major portion of the cycle of the engine, all of the openings :35 are closed by the piston 24. However, to admit vapor tothe interior of the cylinder during the desired portion of the stroke of the piston, the piston is provided with a longitudinally extending passage ill (see Fig. l) communicating with the interior of the cylinder at the head end thereof, and at its other end is provided with a lateral passage 4| adapted to register with the openings 35 during a, portion of the stroke of the piston. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, the lateral passage ll is in register with the uppermost opening 35 when the piston is at the top end of its stroke. As the piston moves downwardly, the lateral passage 4| continues to be in register with the various openings 35 until it finally passes downwardly beyond these openings to shut off communication from the passage 3d in the cylinder to the passage 40 in the piston.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that vapor will be admitted to the interior of the cylinder only during that period of time when the port 32 is in register with the port 3| and the lateral passage ll is in register with one of the openings 35. The various ports, passages and openings are so positioned that vapor will be admitted to the interior of the cylinder during a period commencing with the piston at the extreme upper end of its stroke and continuing through only a portion of the downward stroke of the piston. Thus, the ports 32 and 3| start to overlap at the moment the piston leaves its uppermost position, and will obviously continue to be at least partially in register throughout the entire downward stroke of the piston. However, the lateral passage 4] moves out of register with the openings 35 soon after the piston starts its downward movement so that, even though vapor under pressure is admitted to the longitudinal passage 3% throughout the entire downward stroke of the piston, it is cut off from admission to the interior of the cylinder shortly after the piston starts its downward stroke. Thus a cutoff is obtained Without the use of any mechanism such as a link motion or cam system. With the present arrangement, it will be evident that the engine will operate only in one direction and cannot be reversed. Thus, in starting, correct rotation is insured.

The vapor within the cylinder is adapted to be exhausted therefrom on the upstroke of the piston through passages controlled solely by the oscillation of the cylinder. Thus, I provide a port 42 in the cylinder communicating with the upper end of the interior thereof, and a corresponding port QB in the block l5, thesetwo ports being located on the opposite side of the longitudinal center line of the cylinder from the ports 3! and 32. The port 43 is connected to a pas sage '44 in the block 15, to which may be connected a suitable exhaust pipe (not shown). The oscillation of the cylinder obviously will move the port 42 into register with the port Q3 to permit exhaust therethrough when the ports 3! and 32 are out or register.

To illustrate the operation of the various ports and passages throughout the entire cycle of the engine, I have diagrammatically shown in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, the various positions of such ports and passages. In all of these figures, the crankshaft is illustrated as moving in a, counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows. In Fig. 6, the position of the parts when the crank pin it is at its top dead center and the piston at the upper end of its stroke is shown. In this position, the port 32 is just about to overlap the port 3! so that vapor may pass therethrough. Movement of the crank from this position swings the cylinder in a clockwise direction about its pivot shaft so that the port 32 moves gradually into register with the port 3| and then out of register therewith. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8, where the crank pin M has moved through a quarter turn, the ports 31 and 32 have moved into full register with each other. Through the next quarter turn of the crank pin M, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the ports 3i and 32 are gradually moved out of register until complete disconnection between these two ports is attained at the position shown in Fig. 9, such position being of crankshaft rotation from the position shown in Fig. 6. If the ports 3! and 32 were the only means for controlling the admission of vapor to the cylinder, then it would be obvious that vapor would be admitted throughout the entire power stroke of the piston, since the piston moves through its entire stroke during the 180 movement of the crank pin from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 9. With such an arrangement, there would be no cut-off.

By utilizing the movement of the piston in conjunction with the oscillation of the cylinder to control the admission of vapor to the interior of the cylinder, the cut-off is obtained. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, the lateral, passage M is in register with one of the openings-35 so that vapor is admitted to the cylinder the moment the crank pin I4 moves beyond the position of Fig. 6 to bring the port 32 into partial register with the port 3 I. Communication is maintained with the interior of the cylinder by the lateral passage 4I until the piston reaches the position indicated in Fig. 7 where the lateral passage 4I passes below the lowermost opening 35. From that point on, in the downward stroke of the piston, no more vapor is permitted to enter the interior of the cylinder, even though the ports 32 and 3I are in register. During this period, the vapor theretofore admitted to the interior of the cylinder is permitted to expand to perform useful work.

As the crank pin rotates from the position shown in Fig. 9, to the position shown in Fig. 10 and to the position shown in.Fig. 11, the ports 3| and 32 are maintained out of register and the exhaust port 42 in the cylinder moves into register with the port 43 in the block I5. Thus, the.

spent vapor in the cylinder will beforced out through the exhaust passage during the upward stroke of the piston. It will be noted that when the piston reaches the position shown in Fig. 11, the lateral passage 4| again moves into register with one of the openings 35 but no vapor is admitted at this time into the interior of the cylinder because the port 32 is out of register with the port 3 I.

The invention includes as another of its features a means for adjusting the point in the cycle at Which cutoff occurs. This feature operates in connection with the control of the admission of vapor by the piston and thus the feature is not limited to use solely in an oscillating cylinder type of engine. As is apparent in Fig. 1, the openings 35 from the passage 34 into the interior of the cylinder are arranged in a longitudinally extending series. It will be obvious that by closing some of these openings, startingwith the lowermost opening, the point at which cut-off occurs will occur earlier in the downward or power stroke of the piston. This result will be obtained by virtue of the fact that thelateral passage 4| will move downwardly beyond the available openings 35 at an earlier point in the cycle. To this end, the longitudinal passage 34 in the cylinder is provided with an adjustable plunger 50 which, for maximum cut-off, is located below the lowermost pening35. By moving the plunger 50 upwardly in the passage 34, first the lowermost opening 35 will be closed, and dependent upon the height to which the plunger 55 is adjusted, the

upper ones may be successively closed.

To provide for adjustment of the plunger'53, it has an upwardly extending shank or stem I extending through the passage 34. At its upper end above the passage 33, the stem 5| is enlarged as at 52 and is threaded as at 53. The enlarged portion 52 preferably is mounted in a stufiing box 54 and is provided with a knob 55 at its outer end. Thus, by rotating the knob 55, the threads 53 will cause the plunger to be adjustable longitudinally within the passage 34 so thatany desired number of the openings 35, startingwith the lowermost, may be closed. With this arrangement, the point at which the lateralpassage 4| moves out of communication with the passage 34 may be varied to vary the point of cut-off in the stroke of the piston.

The foregoing structure for admitting vapor to the cylinder is utilized during normal operation of the engine. However, for starting the engine, it is desirable to be able to admit vapor to the cylinder at any part of the power stroke of the piston. The present invention, therefore, also includes passages for admitting vapor throughout the entire power stroke of the piston so that in an engine having twoor more cylinders, it may be started merely by admitting vapor to the cylinders since, with two or more cylinders, at least one of the pistons therein will be stopped at some point in its downward or power stroke.

To this end, I provide a vapor supply pipe 60 connected to a passage GI in the block I5. The passage GI is provided with branches 62 extending to the two cylinders on opposite sides thereof. Each branch passage 62 has a port 63 in the adjacent face plate 23, while in the cooperating face plate 23 on the cylinder, a port 64 is provided. The port 64 vis adapted to be moved into register with the port 63 at the same time that the port 32 moves into register with the port 3|. The port 64 is connected to a passage 65 leading to the interior of the cylinder at the head end thereof. As will be apparent from an inspection of diagrammatic Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, the ports 64 and 63 will be at least in partial register throughout the downward stroke of the piston, so that vapor can thereby be admitted to each cylinder throughout the power stroke.

To facilitate control of the engine, the pipes 26 and 60 are connected to single control valve 10 connected to a single source ofvapor under pressure. By means of the valve 10, vapor may be admitted to the pipes 60 to supply all of the cylinders during starting, and thereafter the valve 10 may be shifted to cut off the supply to the pipes 60 and admit the vapor to the various cylinders through the pipes 26 for normal operation of the engine. During such normal operation, the plunger 50 may be adjusted by the knob 55 to determine the point of cut-01f and thus meet varying load requirements. While the cooperating ports 3I and 32 and the cooperating ports 63 and 64 are illustrated in such position that no lead is provided, it is understood that lead may be provided, if desired, by shifting or enlarging one of each pair of vapor'supply ports so that they start to overlap slightly before the piston reaches the head or upper end of its stroke.

In theembodiment of the invention shown in Figs; 1 and 2, the point of cut-off in the cylinders is adjusted by individual adjustment of the knobs 55, such adjustment being performed when the engine is notrunning, since the knobs 55 oscillate with the cylinders. In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a structure for varying the point of cutoff, which permits adjustment while the engine is running, and which permits simultaneous adjustment of both of the cylinders that are carried by each supporting block 15. In this form of engine, the plunger for adjusting the point of cut-off operates with a rotary motion instead of a longitudinal motion, as shown in the first form. Thus I provide a plunger II havinga slanting upper surface '12. When such slanting surface is turned so that its lowermostpoint faces the openings 35 in the side of the cylinder,

it is evident inFig. 5, where all of the openings 35 permit the passage of vapor into the cylinder,

that rotation of the plunger will move the slanting surface across the lowermost openings to close them, so that only the uppermost opening in this particular construction is available to admit vapor into the cylinder.

The plunger is provided with a shanklt extending longitudinally in the passage E i and rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end in a stuifing box H. The shank 13 extends exteriorly above the cylinder and, at its upper end, is arranged to-be connected to a manually operable device, which'is also connected to the plunger in the adjoining cylinder. In order to permit adjustment while the engine is operating, the manually operable device is mounted concentric with the pivot supporting the two cylinders. Thus, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pivot shaft, indicated at 15, :in this instance is tubular in form to receive therein longitudinally slidable rod 16. At the center lines of the respective cylinders, the rod 16 has two sets of rack teeth 11 cut therein, each set meshing with an idler gear 80 rotatably mounted on a stud 8| in the upper end of the cylinder. The idler gear 80 meshes with a gear 82 fixed on the upper end of the shank 13 of the plunger Tl- Thus, by movement of the rod 16 longitudinally, the plunger H may be rotated to adjust the number of openings 35 that are available for admitting vapor to the cylinder. The tubular pivot shaft 15 is illustrated as being secured against rotation relative to the supporting block l5, by means of a key 83.- With this arrangement, the idler gear 80 will oscillate relative to the rack teeth on the bar 18. To provide for such oscillation,

' the teethof the gear Bil are rounded, as indicated at 84, and the slot in the side of the pivot shaft it, through which the idler gear 80 projects, is flared as at 85 to permit such relative oscillation. The two rods 16 for thecylinders on the respective sides of the v may, of course, be interconnected for simultaneous operation, so that the cut-01f for all of the cylinders of the engine will be simultaneously and equally adjusted.

I claim: v

1. A vapor engine comprising a support having a vapor inlet port, an oscillating cylinder member having an inlet passage provided at one end with a port adapted to move into and out of register with said inlet port upon oscillation and at its other end with a port opening into the side of the cylinder at a point spaced from the head thereof, a piston in said cylinder memher having a passage extending longitudinally from the head thereof and having a lateral passage open to the port in the side of the cylinder when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder and adapted to be closed by movementof the piston away from the head of the cylinder,

and a crank for reciprocating the piston and for oscillating the cylinder member, said cylinder having exhaust means.

2. A vapor engine of the oscillating-cylinder type, comprising a support having a vapor inlet port, an oscillating cylinder and a reciprocable piston, said cylinder having an inlet passage one end of which is adapted by oscillation of they cylinder to register with said inlet port through out the power stroke of the piston, the other end.

of said passage opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, and said piston having a longitudinal pasage extending from its head end and having a lateral opening adapted by reciprocation of the piston to register with said other end of the cylinder inlet passage during the initial portion of the power stroke, said cylinder having exhaust means.

3. A vapor engine comprising a fixed support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally carried by said support, and a reciprocatingpistonin said cylin-' der, said support, said cylinder and said piston having passages which together form'an inlet for admitting vapor to the'cylinder for actuating tudinal passage opening through said cylinder face and adapted to be moved into register with the passage in the support by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power stroke of the engine, and an elongated reciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder, said passage in the cylinder opening into the interior through the side thereof at a point engaged by the piston throughout the stroke thereof, and said piston having a longitudinal passage extending from the head thereof and having a lateral opening adapted to be moved into register with the opening of the cylinder passage by the reciprocation of the piston when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vapor is admitted to the cylinder substantially only during the initial portion of the power stroke of the piston, said cylinder having exhaust means.

5. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally carried on said support, and a reciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having engaging face portions extending perpendicular to the pivotal axis with vapor inlet passages opening through said face portions eccentrically to the pivotal axis and adapted by the oscillation of the cylinder to register throughout the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage opening into. the interior of the cylinder and having a lateral opening adapted by the reciprocation of the piston to register with an opening of the passage in the cylinder in the side wall thereof when the piston is at the start of the power stroke, said cylinder having exhaust means.

6. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support on an axis located at the head of the cylinder,- and a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support and saidcylinder having face portions in engagement and having vapor inlet passages provided with ports in the re- 'spective face portions at one side of the pivotal axis and adapted bythe oscillation of the cylin-' ing into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof and spaced from the head of the cylinder, and said piston being sufiiciently elongated to cover the last-mentioned port throughout its stroke and having a passage with a lateral opening adapted to register with the last-mentioned port when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, the passage in the piston extending to the head thereof to open into the interior of the cylinder, said cylinder havingexhaust means.

7. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support-and said cylinder having inlet passages having ports adapted to bemoved into register with each other by the oscillation of the cylinder during the powerstroke of the piston, said piston having a passage communieating with i the interior of the cylinder and adapted to be moved into communication with the passage in the cylinder by the reciprocation of the piston when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vapor is admitted to the cylinder during the initial portion of the power stroke of the piston, and a member adjustably mountedin the passage in the cylinder for varying the point at which the piston cuts 011 communication between the passage therein and the passage in the cylinder, said cylinder having exhaust means. 1

8. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having inlet passages having ports adapted to be moved into register with each other by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power stroke of the piston,

the passage in the cylinder including a plurality of apertures opening tothe interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, with the apertures arranged in a row extending longitudinally of the cylinder, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port movable by reciprocation of the piston into overlapping relation with said apertures when the piston is adjacent the header the cylinder, and a member mounted in the passage in the cylinder and adjustable to sequentially close the apertures farthest from the head ofthe cylinder to decrease the period during which vapor is admitted to the cylinder, said cylinder having exhaust means.

9. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support on an aXis located at the head of the cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having inlet passages having ports adjacent said axis adapted to be moved into register with each other by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power stroke of the piston, the passage in the cylinder extending longitudinally of the cylinder and having an opening to the interior at the side thereof spaced from the head, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having an opening at the side movable by the reciprocation of the piston into coincidence with the opening in the cylinder as the piston approaches the head of the cylinder, and a member mounted in theypassage in the cylinder and adjustable to vary the point in the reciprocation of the piston at which the openings in the cylinder and piston coincide, said member I having an operating, portion extending axially 10 through the passage in the cylinder to the head end thereof, said cylinder having exhaust means.

10. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support on an axis located at the head of the cylinder, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, said support having a vapor inlet passage provided with a port adjacent said axis, said cylinder having a passage comprising a portion extending parallel to said axis and adapted to move into register with said port on oscillation of the cylinder and a portion extending longitudinally of the cylinder and opening into the interior at the side thereof, said piston having a passage opening into the interior of the cylinder and provided with a port at the side of the piston adapted to be moved into register with the cylinder passage by the reciprocation of the piston, and a member adjustably mounted in'the cylinder passage for varying the point at which the port in the piston moves into and out of register with the cylinder passage, said member having a stem extending through said longitudinally extending portion of the cylinder passage and rotatably mounted in the head of the cylinder, said cylinder having exhaust means.

11. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support, and a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having inlet passages provided with ports located at one side of the pivotal axis and adapted to be moved into and out of register by the oscillation of the cylinder, saidinlet passage in the cylinder also having a port at the side of the cylinder opening into the interior thereof, and said piston having a passage opening into the interior of the cylinder and having a port adapted to be moved into register with the last-mentioned port of the cylinder passage when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, and said support and said cylinder having exhaust passages provided with ports located at the opposite side of the pivotal axis from the inlet passage ports and adapted to be moved into register by the oscillation of the cylinder when the inlet passage ports are out of register.

12. A vapor engine comprising a cylinder, a

piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a vapor inlet passage having a port opening into the interior of the cylinder in the side thereof, means for admitting vapor to said passage during the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port in the side of the piston adapted to be moved into register with the cylinder port by the reciprocation of the piston when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, and a member mounted in the cylinder passage adjacent the port thereof and adjustable longitudinally of the cylinder to vary the point at which the admission of vapor to the cylinder is cut off, said cylinder having exhaust means.

13. A vapor engine comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a vapor inlet passage having a longitudinally extending series of ports opening in the interior of the cylinder in the side thereof, means for admitting vapor to said passage during the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port in the side of the piston movable by the reciprocation of the piston successively into register with said series of ports when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, and a member mounted in the cylinder passage adjacent said series of ports and adjustable longitudinally of said cylinder to successively close the ports of said series'to vary the point at which the admission of vapor to the cylinder is cut ofi, said cylinder having exhaust means.

14. A vapor engine comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a vapor inlet passage extending longitudinally thereof and having a port opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, means for admitting vapor to said passage during the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port in the side of the piston adapted to be moved by the reciprocation of the piston into register with the cylinder port when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, and a control member mounted in the cylinder passage adjacent the port thereof and having a stem extending longitudinally therein and threaded in the head of the cylinder whereby rotation of said stem adjusts said control member to vary the point at which the admission of vapor to the cylinder is out 01f, said cylinder having exhaust means.

15. A vapor engine comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a vapor inlet passage having a port opening into the interior of the cylinder in the side thereof, means for admitting vapor to said passage during the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port in the side of the piston adapted to be moved into register with the cylinder port by the reciprocation of the piston when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, and a cylindrical control member rotatably mounted in the cylinder passage adjacent the port thereof and having a slanting end surface adapted upon rotation thereof to vary the opening of said cylinder port to vary the point at which admission of vapor to the cylinder is cut off, said cylinder having exhaust means.

16. A vapor engine comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a vapor inlet passage extending longitudinally thereof and having a port opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, means for admitting vapor to said passage during the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port in the side of the. piston adapted to be moved by the reciprocation of the piston into register with the cylinder port when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, a cylindrical control member rotatably mounted in the cylinder passage adjacent the port thereof and shapedso that upon rotation thereof, the opening of said cylinder port will be varied to vary the point at which admission of vapor to the cylinder is cut off, said control member having a stem extending through said cylinder passage and journaled in the head of the cylinder, and means mounted on the head of the cylinder and connected to said stem for rotatably adjusting said member, said cylinder having exhaust means. I

17. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support on an axis located at. the head of the cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted: in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having cidence with the opening in the cylinder as the piston approaches thehead of the cylinder, a control member rotatably mounted in the cylinder passage and adjustable by rotation to vary the point in the reciprocation of the piston at which admission ofvapor to the cylinder is out 01f, said control member having a stem extending through the cylinder passage and journaled in the head of the cylinder, and an adjusting member having an operating connection with said stem, said adjusting member being mounted on the axis of oscillation of said cylinder whereby it may readily be adjusted while the engine is running, said cylinder having exhaust means.

18'. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted on said support on an axis located at the head of the cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having inlet passages having ports adjacent said axis adapted to be moved into register with each other by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power stroke of the piston, the passage in the cylinder extending longitudinally of the cylinder and having an opening to the interior at the side thereof spaced from the head, said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having an opening at the side movable by the reciprocation of the piston into. coincidence with the opening in the cylinder as the piston approaches the head of the cylinder, a tubular pivot pin mounted in said support and extending into the head of said cylinder for supporting it for oscillation, a control member rotatably mounted in the cylinder passage andadjustable by rotationto vary the point in the reciprocation of the piston at which admission of vapor to the cylinder is cut off, said control member having a stem extending longitudinally in said passage and journaled in the head of the cylinder, and an adjusting member movably mounted in said tubular pivot pin and having a connection with said stem whereby said control. member may be readily adjusted while the engine is running, said cylinder having exhaust means. 7

19. A vapor engine comprising a support, an oscillating cylinder pivotally mounted 'on said support on an axis located at the head of the cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having inlet. passages having ports adjacent said axis adapted to be moved into register with each other by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power stroke of the piston, the passage in the cylinder extending longitudinally of the cylinder and having an opening to the interior at the sideithereof spaced from the head; said piston having a passage communicating with the' interior of the cylinder and having an opening at the side movable by the reciprocation of the piston into coincidence with the opening in the cylinder as the piston approaches the head of the cylinder, a tubular pivot pin mountedin said support and extending into the. head of. said cylinder for supporting 13 it for oscillation, a control member rotatably mounted in the cylinder passage and adjustable by rotation to vary the point in the reciprocation of the piston at which admission of vapor to the cylinder is out off, said control member having astem extending longitudinally in said passage and journaled in the head of the cylinder, a rack slidably mounted in said tubular pivot pin, and gearing meshing with said rack through a slot in said pin and connected to saidstem, whereby said control member may be readily adjusted by moving said rack while theengine is running, said cylinder having exhaust means.

20. A vapor engine comprising a support, a cylinder mounted for oscillation on said support, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said support and said cylinder having vapor inlet passages provided with ports adapted to be moved into register by the oscillation of said cylinder during the power stroke of the piston, the inlet passage in the cylinder opening into the interior of the cylinder in the side thereof, and said piston having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and adapted to move into r'egisterwith the cylinder passage when, the

piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vapor is admitted to the cylinder only during the initial portion of the power stroke of the piston, said support and said cylinder having auxiliary vapor inlet passages provided with ports adapted to be moved into register by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power stroke of the piston, the auxiliary cylinder passage opening into the interior of the cylinder at the head thereof whereby vapor may be admitted to the cylinder throughout the power stroke of the piston, and a manually operable valve for selectively controlling the admission of vapor to the respective inlet passages in said support, said cylinder having exhaust means.

21. A vapor engine comprising a support, a pair of cylinders mounted for oscillation on said support, and r a pair of pistons reciprocably mounted in the respective cylinders, said support having a vapor inlet passage provided with a pair of ports and said cylinder-s having vapor inlet passages provided with ports adapted to be moved by the oscillation of said cylinders into register with the respective ports in said support during the power strokes of the respective pistons, each of said cylinder passages having an opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, and each of said pistons having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port at the side of the piston adapted to move into register with the opening of the cylinder passage when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vapor is admitted to each cylinder during the initial portion of the power stroke of the associated piston, said cylinder having exhaust means.

22. A vapor engine comprising a support having bearing faces on opposite sides thereof, a pair of cylinders oscillatably engaging the respective bearing faces, a pivot pin mounted in said support and extending from both of said bearing faces for supporting said cylinders for ing the power strokes of therespective pistons,

each of said cylinder passages having an opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof and each of said pistons having a passage communicating with the interior of, the cylinder and having a port at the sideof the piston adapted to be moved by the reciprocation of thepiston into register with the opening of the cylinder passage when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vaporis admitted to each cylinder during the initial portion of the power stroke of the associated piston, said cylinder having exhaust means.

23. A vapor engine comprising a support having bearing faces on opposite sides thereof, a pair of cylinders oscillatably engaging the respective bearing faces, a tubular pivot pin mounted in said support and extending from both of said bearing faces for supporting said cylinders for oscillation, a pair of pistons reciprocably mounted in the respective cylinders, said support having a vapor inlet passage provided with a pair of ports in the respective bearing faces, and said cylinders having longitudinally extending vapor inlet passages provided with ports adapted to be moved by the oscillation of said cylinders into register with the respective ports in said bearing faces during the power strokes of the respective pistons, each of said cylinder passages having an opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, and each of said pistons having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port at the side of the piston adapted to be moved by the reciprocation oi the piston into register with the opening of the cylinder passage when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vapor is admitted to each cylinder during the initial portion of the power stroke of the associated piston, a pair of control members rotatably mounted in the respective cylinder passages and. adjustable by rotation to vary the point in the reciprocation of the piston at which admission of vapor to the cylinder is out off, each of said control members having a stem extending longitudinally in the cylinder passage and journalled in the head of the cylinder, a rack axially slidable in said tubular pivot pin, and gearing meshing with said rack and connected to the stems of said control members, whereby said control members may be simultaneously adjusted by moving said rack, said cylinder having exhaust means.

24. A vapor engine comprising a support, a pair of cylinders mounted for oscillation on opposite sides of said support, pistons reciprocably mounted in said cylinders, said support having a vapor inlet passage provided with ports on the opposite sides of the support, and said cylinders having vapor inlet passages provided with ports adapted to be moved by the oscillation of said cylinders into register with the respective ports in said support during the power strokes of the respective pistons, each of said cylinder passages having an opening into the interior of the cylinder at the side thereof, and each of said pistons having a passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port at the side of the piston adapted to be moved by the reciprocation of the piston into register with the opening of the associated cylinder passage when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, whereby vapor is admitted to each cylinder during the initial portion of the power stroke of its associated piston, said support and said cylinders having, auxiliary vapor inlet passages provided with ports adapted to be moved into register" by the oscillation of the cylinder during the power strokes of the respective pistons,each auxiliary cylinder passage opening into the interior of the cylinder at the head thereof whereby vapor may be admitted to the cylinder throughout the power stroke of the piston, and a manually operable valve for selectively controlling the admission of vapor to the respective inlet passages in said. support, said cylinder having exhaust means.

25. A vapor engine comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a vapor inlet passage having a port opening into the interior of the cylinder in the side thereof, means for admitting vapor to said passage during the power stroke of the piston, said piston having a passage com.- municating with the interior of the cylinder and having a port in the side of the piston adapted to be moved into register with the cylinder-port by the reciprocation of the piston when the piston is adjacent the head of the cylinder, and means associated with the port of said vapor inlet passage of. said cylinder adjustably mounted 116 on the cylinder to vary the point at which the admission of. vapor to the cylinder is cut off, said cylinder having exhaust means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,352 Forrester Dec. 20, 1870 365,267 Maltby June 21, 1887 375,077 Dec. 20, 1887 398,143 Gale Feb. '19, 1889 483,014 Powers Sept. 20, 1892 617,529 Howard Jan. 10, 1899 697,136 Emmitt Apr. 8, 1902 757,485 McGrath Apr. 19, 1904 1,584,937 Herman May 18, 1926 1,872,934 Goldshorough Aug. 23, 1932 1,990,703 Liddle Feb. 12, 1935 2,326,494 Ratzburg Aug. 10, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,999 Great Britain July 31, 1902 20,256 Great Britain Aug. 30', 1910 257,966 Germany Mar. 26, 1913 

